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'FIBBESGAPE. No 288,448. Patented Nov. 13, 1883. I

. D E N N E K J d FIRE ESCAPE;

No. 288,448. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

I'IQE.

Phom-Lithugmpiur. wamn m. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JAMES KENNEDY, OF STRABANE,-GOUNTY TYRONE, IRELAND.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,448, dated.November 13, 1883,

' Application filed May 17, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England August16, 1882, No. 3,915.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES KENNEDY, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, and residing at Strabane, in the county of Tyrone,Ireland, haveinvented certain Improvements in FireEscapes and Apparatusfor Extinguishing Fires, (for which I have obtained a patent in GreatBritain, dated the 16th day of August, 1882, No. 3,915,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in fire-escapes andapparatus for extinguishing fires, and has for its object thearrangement of escape-ladders in such a manner that carriages may bemounted thereon for lowering persons or material from an elevation, andfor the application to the ladders of adjustable apparatus to which oneor more hose-pipes can be attached, so that the pipes are sup.

ported and the direction. of the jets of water under better control.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will, by the aidof the accompanying drawings, proceed to more fully describe the meansemployed by me in carrying the same into effect.

Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation through line 1 2 of myimproved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a section ofthe ladders through line 3 4. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan through line ab. The platform for covering the shafts in this as in the other figuresis removed; and 5 isa side elevation of one side of thebottom portion ofthe ladder, showing the, adjustable platform to which the apparatus for'sii'p'porting the hose-pipe is attached. 1

The sides A of the bottom part of the ladder are attached to the wheelsB by springs B in the ordinary manner, and from the laddersides projectthe arms A, to which is mounted a number of winch-shafts, for thepurpose hereinafter described. Between the. two sides A is fitted theupper or sliding portion of the ladder A". This part is raised orlowered by turning with an ordinary winch-handle the shaft 0 andwinch-barrels G, to the latter of which the ropes or chains 0 and G areattached, which pass around the grooved pulleys D and D, mounted onshafts secured to the sides of the ladder A and finally connected to thesliding ladder A, thereby raising 'or lowering the same according to thedirection in which the shaft and barrels G are turned. The carriages orcages G and G travel in slides formed between the ladder-sides, and areraised and lowered by turning with an ordinary winch-handle the shaft E,which, by means of the spur-wheels E the shaft on which the barrels Eare secured, rotates. The ropes 'or chains F are wrapped around thebarrels E-one in one direction and the other in the other, as indicatedby the arrows-and, after leaving the said barrels, pass, respectively,over the grooved pulleys K, mounted tdthe top cross-brace, A and theends finally secured to the respective carriages G and G. By arrangingthe ropes or chains in the manner de scribed, oncausing the barrels torevolve, one of the carriages is ascending while the other isdescending, in whatever way the barrels are turned, thereby saving thetime and labor of having to raise the empty carriages or cages from thebottom to the top each time any per son is lowered.

Oneside of the ladder A is shown fitted with a sliding platform, L,which is elevated or lowered by means of rope or chain M, in connectionwith the grooved pulley N, secured on shaft N. This shaft and pulley areturned by the shaft 0, which is made to slide in its bearings. In thedrawings it is in gear with the shaft N. Thus, on turning the shaft 0with an ordinary winch-handle, the pulley N will revolve. The rope orchain M, after leaving the grooved pulley N, passes around the groovedpulleys R and R, the end being secured to the frame-work of platform L.This platform is hinged to the bar S, the latter being secured to twoblocks, S, made to slide freely on the grooved bar T. When the shaft Nis turned, the rope or chain M elevates or lowers the platform L, andwhen the platform is adjusted to the height required it is secured bytightening a screw, W, which passes through the top sliding block, theend being in contact with the grooved bar T. When the platform isthussecured, the shaft 0 is then. free to be put into gear with the shaft onwhich the 'barrels O are fixed. By raising the pawl P out IOD 1o nut, N,on the under side.

jointed to the uprights and the latter turning on the center-pin, theattendant on the platof the groove and dropping it into groove 1?,

the top ladders, A can be actuated.

' To the top rail of the platform frame-work one or more sets of levers,L", may be mounted,

5 fitted with suitable levers for the reception of form can direct thejets of water in whatever direction he desires, the levers and platformI 5 sustaining the weight of pipes and columns of water.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of the bottom part ofa ladder, and an upper extensible portion,with a traveling cage, sets ofhoisting-chains, and barrels for both the cage and the extensibleportion of the ladder, operating-shaft, and devices, substantially asdescribed, for throwing said shaft into gear with either set of hoistingdevices.

2. The combination of a fire-escape ladder, with a platform, L, mountedthereon, and levers on the said platform, for holding hose jet-pipes,all substantially as set forth.

.In testimony whereof I have signed my name .to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES KENNEDY. \Vitnesses:

ANDREW M. CAFFERTY, JOHN M. CONNERS.

